Apparatus for manufacturing iron and its alloys.



M. RUTHENBURG. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING IRON AND ITS ALLOYS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10,1905.

Patented June 20, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

M. RUTHENBURG. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING IRON AND ITS ALLOYS.

Patented une 20,1911. 1

a SHEETS-SHEET z.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10,1905.

FIGHT WITNESSES: 12 INVENTOR:

M. RUTHENBURG. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING IRON AND ITS ALLOYS.

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WITNESSES: fl INVENTOR:

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- the economy incident the reducing gas apart from the chamber hereinafter described the economy of such a temperature as to be UNITED, S'IAIES; EATER @FFIQE. MARCUS @UTHENBIIBG, 0E WKIOB'E, NEVV 163K. I

APPARATUS FOR MANUFAGEURING IRON AND I I-'5 1 1,935,

p i a ion of letters retest. Patented June rear. Application and June 10, 1905. Serial in. season heat above contemplated To all whom it may concern:

is attained by lo- Be it known that I, MARCUS RUTHEN- cating the frittin device aforesaid in such BURG, of Lockport, 1n the State of New relationto the re ucin furnace chamber as York, have invented certain new and useful to discharge the hotfr tted ore therein, and Improvements in Apparatus for Manuby locating a gas producer in such relation facturing Iron and Its Alloys, whereof the to said reducing chamber as to di charge hot following is a specification, reference being deoxidizing gas therein through an assemhad to the accompanying drawings. bled mass of fritted 111m 5. Moreover, the The present invention is arranged to utimm said reduci wastegas which escapes lize themethod forming the sub ect matter chamber is further utilized to maintain the of my Letters Patent of the United States temperature in said chamber by being caused #(5ll, 552 dated January 16, 1900 whereby to traverse the wall of said chamber exterior connlnnuted ore or concentrate such as magthereto before its discharge into the atnetite ls'assembled 1n the path of an electric mosphere. current so proportioned as to frit and ag- In the operation hereinafter glonierate the ore particles 1n coherent mass of porous lumps is progressed down porous lumps of the .character contem lated wardly trough the reducin chamber at in my Letters Patent of the United tates such a rate that completare notion of the #685,699 dated December 10, 1901. component parts thereof is efiected during Hitherto 1n emplcylng the patented in-v vent-ions aforesaid, I have made iron or steel from comminuted' ore such as magnetite, by mixing with the particles of ore, before the fritting operation, a deoxidi zing or reducing agent such as coal tar, lamp black, molasses or oil, in which case the coherent porous lumps produced are only partially reduced to a metallic state and require a second oper: ation, distinct and separate from said ritting operation, to effect their complete re.- Said ordinary method of manufacture is wasteful in that the heat resultant from the fritt-ing operationis lost in the interval between the two operations, and, considerable heat is also required to reraise described, a

of said chamber; the reducedportions of the features of construction and arrangement hereinaftefifnore definitely s ecified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a slde elevation of an apparatus conveniently embodying my improvements, Fig. II, is a vertical sectional view of the furnace, taken on the line II, II in Fig. I. Fig. the deoxidizing; agent to the proper tem- III, is a plan sectional view, taken on the perature, in addition to the heat primarily line III, III, in Figs. I and II. Fig. IV, is required to produce it. v a plan sectional view, taken on the line IV,

The present invention provides apparatus p IV, in Figs. I and II. Fig. V, is' an en,- which can be utihzed to effect by one conlarged fragmentary sectional view of the the complete reduction hopper shown in Fig. II. Fig. VI is a plan to the metallic state of any comminuted ore view of the electro-magnet shown in section or concentrate of the class. contemplated,

inF' II. such reduction being effected by a deoxidiz- In ghe drawings, 1, is the producer casing ing gas without wasting any of the heat" inclosing the hearth u on which the comresultant from the preliminary fritting bustionof the fuel 3, is e ected in such manoperation and without wasting any-of the; nor as to produce gas which is delivered heat required for the production of said gas; through the conduit 4:, controlled. by the to the manufacture. of valve 5; the desired pressure of the gas being attained by -the blower 6, operated by the in which the reductlon of the ore is efiected i being also retained, and, the product being j not only reduced to the metallic state ,but at readily melted chenille-r13. Said the perforated gas distributing dome15,.ex.-

for commercial use.

their traverse from the top to the bottom electric motor 7, and having an blast inlets fu n ce casing 1. to t dome walls 16, are

vided with checker work I tending upwardly in concentric relation with said casing 11, and comprising double walls 6, inclosmg a water jacket space 1 7,7hav- 1ng suitable inlet and outlet connections 19, and 20, whereby water or any other coolmg medium may V 'vent the destruction of said dome by the: temperature to which itis sub ected. Said conveniently connected nozzle tubes 21, through which thehot deoxidizing as is delivered ithin the reduction cham er 13. Said cham er 13, contains amass of lumps of one 23, supported by the floor which as indicated in Figs. III and IV, comprises three radial sheds 25,;the lower portions of which register with the "outlets 26, provided with the removable doors 28, through which the reduced metal may be withdrawn. The gas is forced through said mass of'ore lumps 23, within the chamber 13, by the pressure due to the operation of the b ower 6, and effects the reduction of said mass to the metallic state during its traverse from the top to the bottom of said chamber 13, the proper temperature being maintained by the preheated condition of said gas and the preheated condition of the ore, the latter being attained as hereinafter described. f/

The waste gas escapesat the top of the chamber 13, through the gas outlets .30, into the annularflue chamber 31, which is proof tiles or bricks 33, arranged in staggered relation in successive courses. Said flue chamber 31, is provided with the chimney'vent 35, and is also conveniently provided with the dust outs lets 36, having doors 37 The ore is .preheated as follows :The hopper 40, receives the finely comminu'ted therefrom, in a thin stream, through the rotary valve 43, at the'bo-ttom of sai hopper so as to fall between the opposed cylindrical terminals 44, and 45, of the electric circuit 46, and 47. Said terminals 44, and 45,.are so coupled by the insulating connections 48, as to consti-, tute opposed poles of an electro-magnet, which is energized by the coil 49, having the circuit connections 50, and 51, shown in Fig.

- VI. The effect of the magnetization of said terminals 44, and 45, is to bridge the gap between them with the particles of comminu ed ore 41, which are thus-detained a sufficint length'of time to heat and frit said particles in coherent pprous'lumps 23, which then fall through the ore inlet 53, in the top of the reduction chamber 13, and are as sembled in a mass, ,as indicated, in the confined heated atmosphere withinsaid chamber through which they subside as' the reduced metal iswithdrawn from the bottom through outlets 26, shown in Fig. IV.

the discharge It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precisedetails of coneelgese 1 be circulated through topre-- K struction. and arrangeme'nt herein set forth, as various modificatwns may be made therein without departing tures of my invention.

I claim 1. A furnace com rising a circular chamber having a centra fluid fuel inlet; a fuel distributing dome comprisingdouble walls in concentric relation with said chamber and ifnlet and having radial perforations leading ro ranged to direct and perforations fluid fuel through said inlet medium between said dome walls, including two pipes inclosed by said dome and leading to the space between said walls respectively at the top and at the bottom thereof.

. lets for'the reduced metal and waste ing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet, lets for. the reduced metal and waste gas;

portion of said reduction chamber; a gas distributing dome in said reduction chamber at ing perforations connected by nozzle tubes;

' and, means arranged to circulate a cooling medium between said walls, set forth.

' 3. Inapparatus for making iron and its alloys, the combination with a furnace casing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet, a gas inlet,,and respe ive outletsfor reduced metal and wast gas; of means arranged to frit minuted ore to said chamber through said ore inlet, while charged fritting operation; and, 7 means arranged to produce and deliver deoxidizing gas to said 'chamber through said gas inlet, while charged with the heat of its production, substantially as set forth. .4. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, the combination with a furnace casing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet, a gas inlet, and respective outgas of an ore fritting device comprising terminals of an electric circuit located upon opposite .sidesof said ore inlet; and, means arranged I to supply ber through set forth. I

.5. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, the combination with a furnace casing comprisinga reduction chamber having an ore inlet, afgas-inlet, and respective outlets for the reduced metal and waste gas; of an ore fritting device comprising terminals of an electric circuit located upon opposite sides of said ore inlet; and, a gas producer arranged to deliverdeoxidizing gas substantially as said gas inlet, substantiallyas to said chamber through said gas inlet, while said inlet to said chamber; means .ar

to said chamber; and- ,-means arranged to circulate a cooling a gas inlet, and respective outof a gas supply conduit leading to the lower i said gas inlet, comprising double walls havwith the heat of said from the essential fea- I g 2. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, the combination with a furnace ,cas-' and deliver comhot deoxidizing gas to said chamcharged with the heat of its production,

substantially as set forth.

6.'In apparatus for making iron and its alloys the combination with a furnace casing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet, a gas inlet, and respective outlets for the reduced metaland waste gas; of an ore fritting device comprising terminals of an electric circuit located on opposite sides of said ore inlet; a gas producer; a gas conduit leading from said producer to said reduction chamber, terminating in a perforated gas distributing dome, within said chamber; and, means arranged to control said gas conduit, substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus for making ironand its alloys, the combination with a furnace casing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet; a gas inlet, and respective outlets for the reduced metal and waste gas; of an ore fritting device comprising terminals of an electric circuit located upon opposite sides of said ore inlet; a hopper above said terminals arranged to deliver comminuted ore between them; and, means arranged to supply hot deoxidizing gas to said chamber through said gas inlet, substantially as set forth.

8. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, the combination with a furnace casing comprising a reduction chamber having an ore inlet, a gas inlet, and respective outlets for the reduced metal and waste gas; of an ore fritting device comprising terminals of an electric circuit located upon opposite sides of said ore inlet; means arranged to deliver comminuted ore between said terminals, comprising a hopper above said fritting device havin an outlet in registry with the ore inlet in said casing; a rotary valve arranged to cont-r01 said hopper outlet; a gas producer; a conduit leading from said producer to said gas inlet in the reduction chamber;a valve controlling said conduit; a gas distributingdomc Within said reduction chamber, at said gas inlet, comprising double walls and nozzle tubes extending through said walls; and, means arranged to circulate a cooling medium between said walls, substantially as set forth. v i

9. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, a furnace casing inclosing a reduction chamber and a flue chamber surrounding said reduction chamber;sa'id reduction chamber having a waste gas outlet in its upper portion leading to said flue chamber, an ore inlet in its upper portion, a as inlet in its lower portion, an outlet or the reduced metal in its lower portion, and a gas inlet in its lower portion; in combination with means arranged to supply hot ore to said reduction chamber through said ore inlet; and, means arranged to supply hot deoxidizing gas to said reduction chamber through said gas inlet, substantially as set forth.

' 10. In apparatus for making iron and its alloys, a furnace casing incloslng a circular reduction chamber and an annular flue chamber in concentric relation with said reduction chamber; said reduction chamber having a waste gas outlet in its upper portion leading to said flue chamber, an ore inlet in its u per portion, an out-let for the reduced meta in its lowerportion, and a as inlet in its lower portion; said fluse cham er inclosing checker work, and having a chimney vent in its lower portion; in combination with means arranged to supply hot ore to said reduction chamber through said ore inlet; and, means arranged to supply hot deoxidizing as to said reduction chamber through said gas inlet, substantially as set forth.

11. A furnace comprising a chamber having a fluid fuel inlet; a fuel distributing dome comprising double cylindrical walls in concentric relation with a vertical axis and in connection with saidinlet and'having perforations leading from said inlet to said chamber; double substantially horizontalv walls at the top of said' dpme; and, means arranged to circulate a cooling medium through the space between said cylindrical walls in communication with a space between said substantially horizontal walls.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto I signed my name at Lockport, in the State of New York, this second day of June, 1905.

- MARCUS RUTHENBURG. Witnesses: 5

CHARLOTTE E. SPALDING,'. J. FRANK SMITH. 

